Nicolo Bulega took pole position during World Superbike Superpole qualifying Saturday at TT Circuit Assen, in The Netherlands. Riding his Aruba.it Racing Ducati Panigale V4 R, Bulega recorded a lap time of 1:32.144, which was not only good enough to top the 22-rider field and secure pole position it also eclipsed Sam Lowes’ All-Time Lap Record of 1:32.596 from 2025.

Sam Lowes qualified second with a 1:32.473 on his ELF Marc VDS Ducati Panigale V4R.

Bulega’s teammate, Iker Lecuona did a 1:32.567 to earn the third and final spot on the front row.

Row two starters includeROKiT BMW’s Danilo Petrucci (1:32.921), Pata Maxus Yamaha’s Xavi Vierge (1:32.946), and biota by Kawasaki’s Alex Lowes (1:32.960).

American Garrett Gerloff qualified 16th with a 1:33.575 on his Kawasaki ZX-10RR. 

More from a press release issued by WSBK:

Pole and crash: Bulega takes P1 ahead of Sam Lowes and Lecuona despite Turn 1 fall. The #11 was the rider to beat in Tissot Superpole, although he did end the session in the gravel. 

Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) secured pole position for the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship at the TT Circuit Assen with a new lap record as he claimed P1 in the 15-minute session. However, the #11 had a crash in Tissot Superpole session but it came at the end of the session as he secured first place ahead of Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) and teammate Iker Lecuona in the Pirelli Dutch Round.

THE FIRST RUNS: Bulega leads Ducati contingent

Bulega was the pacesetter in the first stint with a 1’32.798s, only 0.035s ahead of teammate Lecuona, while Sam Lowes claimed a provisional front row start as he lapped 0.379s slower than the #11. The first run was interrupted due to a yellow flag after Bahattin Sofuoglu (Motoxracing WorldSBK Team) crashed at Turn 1.

POLE DESPITE CRASH: Bulega beats Sam Lowes and Lecuona

As the second runs started, Lecuona claimed the advantage after going around three tenths quicker with a 1’32.567s – and a new lap record to go with it as he laid down the gauntlet to his teammate. However, the #11 responded with a 1’32.144s to obliterate his teammate’s time to re-claim provisional pole position, although his session ended with a crash at Turn 1 as he tried to push a little bit more. The two factory Ducati riders were split by a hard-charging Sam Lowes, whose 1’32.473s secured him P2. Bulega has taken four consecutive poles, while he also became the first rider since Jonathan Rea (Honda HRC) in 2021 to take the first three poles of a season, and the first with Ducati since Carlos Checa in 2011. With Sam Lowes and Lecuona also on the front row, it’s the first time Ducati have had three top-three lockouts in Superpole since 1992.

STRONG SHOWING FROM PETRUCCI: P4 for the Italian, Vierge P5

Danilo Petrucci (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) has been the stronger of the BMW riders this weekend and confirmed that in Superpole as he claimed P4, ahead of Xavi Vierge (Pata Maxus Yamaha) with the pair separated by less than half-a-tenth. The #97 was following former Honda teammate Lecuona as he set his fastest time, equalling his best WorldSBK Superpole result. Alex Lowes (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) claimed a late P6 to ensure four different manufacturers were in the top six as he set a 1’32.960s.

BAUTISTA GOES FROM ROW 3: Can he fight his way through the field?

Alvaro Bautista (Barni Spark Racing Team) will go from seventh place after posting a 1’33.013s, ahead of Andrea Locatelli (Pata Maxus Yamaha) who will go from P8. Lorenzo Baldassarri (Team GoEleven) was second on Friday at Assen but will start Race 1 and the Tissot Superpole Race from P9, with Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) missing a third row start by just a tenth of a second.

The top six from WorldSBK Superpole, full results here:

1. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) 1’32.144s

2. Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) +0.329s

3. Iker Lecuona (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +0.423s

4. Danilo Petrucci (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) +0.777s

5. Xavi Vierge (Pata Maxus Yamaha) +0.802s

6. Alex Lowes (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) +0.816s

Next up, Race 1! Don’t miss any action from 15:30 Local Time (UTC+2) using the WorldSBK VideoPass!